Reviewed by Darren · Last checked: July 2026
Table of Contents
The Grand National is the one race a year that gets bet on by people who never bet on horse racing otherwise — run at Aintree every April, over more than four miles and 30 fences, with one of the biggest fields in the sport. That scale changes how you should actually approach betting it compared to a standard race day. This guide covers each-way terms, what tends to matter for a Grand National runner specifically, and how to think about ante-post betting for it.
What Makes the Grand National Different
At up to 40 runners (recently reduced from a historical maximum, with modern safety reforms trimming field sizes slightly), the National is one of the largest fields in horse racing anywhere, run over a genuinely unique course featuring famous, demanding fences like Becher’s Brook and The Chair. That combination of scale and difficulty means completion itself is a real factor — not every runner finishes the race, which materially changes how you should think about markets like each-way and top finish compared to a standard flat or shorter jump race.
Each-Way Terms for the Grand National
Given the size of the field, bookmakers typically offer notably extended each-way terms for the National compared to standard races — commonly 4, 5, or even 6 places paid, sometimes at enhanced odds fractions as a promotional hook for the race specifically. Always compare each-way terms across operators for the National specifically, since this is one of the races where the gap between a standard offer and an enhanced one can be significant. Full mechanics: Each-Way Betting Explained.
Ante-Post Betting the National
Given how far ahead entries and weights are published, ante-post betting on the National is common from months out — but the standard ante-post risk applies fully here: if your horse is withdrawn before the race (common, given how many entries don’t ultimately run), most ante-post bets settle as losers with no refund. Given the unusually high non-runner rate for this specific race compared to smaller fields, many experienced bettors treat National ante-post bets with extra caution, or wait for final declarations closer to race day. Full explanation: Betting Basics Glossary.
What to Look for in a Grand National Runner
- Jumping ability over stamina alone. The unique Aintree fences reward horses with a proven, careful jumping technique — raw stamina or speed matters less than the ability to navigate 30 fences cleanly.
- Weight carried (handicap). The National is run as a handicap, meaning higher-rated horses carry more weight — a lightly-weighted runner with the right jumping profile is often a stronger each-way consideration than the market favourite.
- Previous experience over the course, or at minimum over similarly demanding fences, tends to matter more here than in most races given how distinctive the obstacles are.
- Recent fitness and a clear preparation run, since the distance and demands of the race require genuine stamina built up over recent starts, not just talent.
Common Grand National Betting Markets
- Win — straightforward outright winner.
- Each-way — given the completion risk and field size, the most heavily used market for the National specifically.
- Each-way without the winner — a niche but available market on some sites, betting purely on a placed finish.
- To be placed — a pure top-finish bet without the win component.
- Fall / fail to finish specials — occasionally offered, reflecting the genuine completion risk unique to this race.
Grand National Betting Tips
- Don’t assume the favourite is the safest each-way bet. Given the completion risk across the whole field, a well-fancied favourite can still fail to finish — spreading smaller each-way stakes across a few runners is a common approach rather than one large stake on a single favourite.
- Check the latest confirmed field, not the ante-post entries. Non-runners are common between entries closing and race day.
- Compare each-way terms specifically for this race — enhanced terms are common promotional hooks around the National, and the difference between operators can be meaningful.
- Ground conditions still matter, even in a race this distinctive — check the forecast going in the days before the race.
FAQs
Annually in April, at Aintree Racecourse near Liverpool.
Recent safety reforms have trimmed the maximum field size slightly, but it remains one of the largest fields in horse racing, typically in the 30s-to-low-40s range depending on the year’s specific rules.
Given the size of the field and the genuine completion risk over 30 fences, backing a horse purely to win is a lower-probability bet than in most races — each-way lets you back a realistic top finish without needing an outright win.
Most ante-post bets are settled as losers with no refund if the horse doesn’t take part, which is a meaningful risk for the National given how many entries are ultimately withdrawn before race day.
Becher’s Brook and The Chair are among the most famous and demanding fences on the course, historically associated with the race’s reputation for being uniquely difficult to complete cleanly.
New to each-way or ante-post betting? Check our full Betting Basics Glossary for plain-English explanations.
Related Guides: Horse Racing Betting Guide · Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide · Each-Way Betting Explained · Betting Sign-Up Offers Explained
